July 30, 2011
Local time: 18:35 - (6:35 pm)
Shannon Airport, Shannon, Ireland.
I am sitting in the Shannon airport waiting for my next flight. Maybe two dozen passengers sit on the chairs lined up against wall or stand in the single hallway airport terminal. When it comes to airports, Shannon is probably one the smaller ones. A typical day of flight traffic has maybe twenty planes come and go.
As you read this, you might be saying. “What are you doing in Ireland? I thought you were going to Scotland through Amsterdam.” Don’t worry; your confusion is totally normal. If you had told me that I would be in Ireland, yesterday I would have laughed. I wasn’t supposed to be here! I was supposed to be in Edinburgh this morning at 10:45. Clearly, that didn’t happen.
So, what happened? Let me start from the beginning. After a quick breakfast/brunch and leaving the house and I was promptly dropped off at BDL (Bradley International Airport) where I waited for my flight to board. To past the time, I called my grandmother and cousin. Finally, I was on the plane and ready to start the first leg of my journey…or so I thought. Due to an incoming storm in NYC, my flight was grounded because of flight traffic. The passengers of the plane, including myself, were told to get off the plane until further notice. Therefore, I waited... Then, I realized that I was probably not going to make my connection to Amsterdam.
After a long talk with the lady at the desk, we finally decided that there as a slim chance that I would make my connecting flight and if not I should go to Kennedy and try to get a flight there. I arrived at JFK (Kennedy Airport) to find that my connection had left. There was another flight for Amsterdam at six but it was already booked. It was such a mess there was no way to get me to Edinburgh on time. Finally, hope arrived. It came in the form of Shannon airport in Ireland. The catch? I had to wait until ten pm and it only two in the afternoon. I took the flight and waited.
Fast forward to eleven thirty at night and I am sitting in the airplane waiting for the flight to take off. Remember that guy, in high school who never really grew up and could get away with being annoying and rude because he had all the right friends and was athlete superstar? Well, I am sitting between him and a very nice woman. Let us just say, neither of the guy or myself wanted to be near each other. Otherwise, I had a lovely chat with the woman. The flight passes and I am able to get some sleep.
I wake up in Shannon, Ireland and my connecting flight to Edinburgh is gone. Again, the airline books me a new flight. This time, they book me a flight to Glasgow (a city near Edinburgh) and a bus ticket. I check in my bag and have seven hours to pass. Field trip? I think yes!! I end up getting on a bus into Shannon and end up going to the Bunratty Castle. It is fantastic! I was in a real castle! In Ireland!!! I get some tea with an amazing slice of apple tart. I head back to the airport and that where I am waiting for my flight to board.
